The Edison Festival of Lights!

Edison, who spent winters in a home he built on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River, invented the light bulb, so it’s fitting that the month culminates with a lighted night parade on Saturday, February 18 at 7pm in Downtown Fort Myers!

Some of the other events include:

• Invention competitions,
• Crafts shows and,
• A 5K run!

If you’re looking to enjoy the Edison Festival of Lights, while having a relaxing, enjoyable vacation with your family & friends — be sure to check out our available Condos & Homes for rent on Fort Myers Beach, and Bonita Beach.

If you have any questions about the event, available rentals, or where the best spot is on Fort Myers Beach to view our amazing sunsets – feel free to give us a call at (866) 218-1709.

We look forward to helping you enjoy your vacation!

Remember, it’s always beachtime at Lahaina!

-Barb

We hope you’ve had a great 2011, superb Holidays, and are enjoying 2012 so far!

We’re really excited about 2012, and shortly, we’ll be debuting our new free eBook “A Renter’s Guide to the Islands – 12 Things You Need to Know About Fort Myers Beach & Bonita Beach”.

In it, we’ll be covering:

• The Island Life,
• Exploring Estero Island, and
• reviewing how you, your family and friends can enjoy each of the little islands around us!

Be sure to Join our Mailing List to assure you’re notified as soon it’s available!

If you think we can help you in any way, be sure to visit our Fort Myers Beach Rentals web site, or give us a call at (866) 218-1709.

Don’t forget – “It’s always beach time at Lahaina!”

- Barb

…then you’ll really enjoy our free “6 Ways to Enjoy Fort Myers Beach” eBook!

In it, we review fun things for you and your family & friends to enjoy, such as:

• The Fort Myers Beach Pier & Times Square,
• Where to find Pet Friendly Florida Beaches,
• How to enjoy a view of the Gulf from 6 Stories Up,
• and more!

Be sure to get your copy of “6 Ways to Enjoy Fort Myers Beach”!

Also, you can learn more about Fort Myers Beach by visiting our web site at: www.BeachFloridaRentals.com or by giving our reservation agents a call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at: (866) 218-1709.

Do you have any other ways you’ve found to enjoy Fort Myers Beach?   Be sure to add your comments below!

Remember, it’s always beach time at Lahaina!

- Barb

(Special thanks to Charly Caldwell from ISGFL for the photo!)

…through Sunday (11/6), Fort Myers Beach will be hosting the:

Fort Myers Beach Sandsculpting Championship Festival!

This year it will be at the GullWing Beach Resort at 6620 Estero Boulevard, and will include:

• 16 of the world’s best Master Sculptors,
• Amateur Sculptors and more!

If you’re looking for a fun vacation away, and want to enjoy this Festival, we’ve got availability on Fort Myers Beach for you, your family & friends!

Feel free to search our Condos & Homes, or give us a call at (866) 218-1709!

Remember, it’s always beachtime at Lahaina!

- Barb

PS – You can learn more about the Festival on their official web site.

This is the 25th of 25 Ways to Enjoy Southwest Florida which can be downloaded for FREE!

Well, in Southwest Florida… that really happens. Actually, it happens practically every day!

Picture this.

You’ve spent the day enjoying one of the many, many amazing things that Southwest Florida has to offer.

Maybe you’ve been having fun boating, fishing, jet skiing or kayaking. Or, perhaps you’ve been exploring the areas museums and history. Maybe you’ve been shopping at the unique boutiques or enjoying delicious seafood.
Whatever the case, now you’re relaxing in your vacation beach house, winding down. In a few hours, it will be that magical moment when the sun sinks into the Gulf, cascading the most beautiful colors you can imagine across the sky and water. Then, as if they had been given a script, the dolphins begin to frolic and play, shimmering in the sunset.

Trust us, you’ll want to see this up close and personal!

You have a few options:

You can just step outside your Bonita Springs rental, take a short walk to the beach, stand on the sandy shore, and admire the sunset in all it’s glory.

Or, if you’re staying in one of the houses with a beautiful gulf view, such as the Glass House, then just look out the floor to ceiling windows and enjoy it from the comfort of the living room!

Or, try one of the most popular ways to see the spectacular sunset up close and personal… take a sunset cruise!

You can drift along the water, watching the shoreline in the distance, and floating toward the horizon, where the sun is just beginning to sink into the water.

Your vacation should be as worry-free as possible.

It can be easy for you to experience an amazing sightseeing or sunset cruise, as you float on the Gulf with the Ready to Cruise package!

It includes your choice of a Sightseeing or Sunset cruise, launching from Historic Tin City in Naples!

You’ll also have Spacious accommodations, featuring:

• Fully Equipped Kitchens
• Living/Dining Rooms
• Screened Lanais

If you’d like to check rates, see prices & availability, and book a Ft Myers vacation or a Bonita Springs Vacation Rental, please contact us online or simply give us a call at (866) 218-1709.

Download our free eBook 25 Ways to Enjoy Southwest Florida for other fun things to do and see in the area!

Remember, it’s always beach time at Lahaina!

Barb

This is the 18th of 25 Ways to Enjoy Southwest Florida which can be downloaded for FREE!

hanging out in your vacation beach house!

But…if you’re feeling a little “extra” lucky, take your chances and cash in on a Casino Cruise!

Just a hop, skip and a jump from one of your Fort Myers vacation rentals is the Big “M” Casino.

Step aboard Southwest Florida’s only luxurious 162’ Gambling Ship!

Enjoy your favorite casino table games, and the newest and loosest slots.

And if you come for the games, you’ll be surprised by the “All You Can eat Buffet.”

The Big “M” Casino is a fun destination for all kinds of guests.

They have special deals for different guests.

So, it’s a good idea to decide what date and time you want to cruise prior to your arrival.

Here are some things to consider:

• If you’re interested in an exciting and fun party casino cruise atmosphere, Friday and Saturday evening cruises should be your pick.
• If you’re 55+ and looking for a deal, the best times to go are Wednesday and Thursday morning cruises where they have Senior discounts.
• Trying to avoid crowds? The best selection of available slots and table games is Sunday evenings.
• If you’re in it for the food, the BEST Buffet is Friday evening!

If you’d like to check rates, see prices & availability, and book a Ft Myers vacation or a Bonita Springs Vacation Rental, please contact us online or simply give us a call at (866) 218-1709.

Download our free eBook 25 Ways to Enjoy Southwest Florida for other fun things to do and see in the area!

Remember, it’s always beach time at Lahaina!

Barb

This is the 15th of 25 Ways to Enjoy Southwest Florida which can be downloaded for FREE!

Southwest Florida seafood!

Take a trip from your Ft Myers Beach Rental and discover everything from tiny seafood shacks to upscale restaurants where the freshest, authentic seafood is prepared.

With so many choices on the menu, sometimes dinner can be a very difficult decision!

We’ve compiled some fresh Florida seafood staples to make it a little easier for you…

• Apalachicola Oysters – Try them steamed, roasted, “Rockefeller”, or Raw!
• Crab – Blue Crab is found along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, usually served soft-shell. Stone crab claws are served hot or cold with lemon & dipping butter
• Catfish – Fried catfish is a Southern specialty!
• Conch – (pronounced “konk”) Chewy mollusks, usually served in chowder, chopped & breaded in fritters, or tenderized with lime juice & served in a salad
• Dolphin (“Mahi Mahi”) – Don’t worry, it’s NOT Flipper, just a dolphin-like fish!! This popular Florida seafood dish is a firm, mild, white fish, delicious grilled or blackened
• Florida Lobster – A sweet, succulent, delicacy! It’s known as the spiny lobster and has no claws, but the tails are broiled and served with melted butter.
• Rock Shrimp – Small shrimp from the Gulf…very tasty!
• Scallops – Sweet and delicate, popular shellfish, often served with a mild white wine sauce or cream.
• Yellowfin Tuna – A firm, flavorful, semi-dark meat fish, often served rare or flash seared

In addition to seafood, Florida is also known for our sweet, juicy oranges!

Only a short drive from your Fort Myers Beach condo are the orange groves of Sun Harvest Citrus on Six-Mile Cypress Road in Fort Myers.

The Sun Harvest Citrus retail store offers the family’s delicious Indian River citrus, fresh-squeezed juices, gourmet foods, candies, gifts and more! (They have lots of free samples, so you can decide on your favorite flavors and juices!)

If you’d like to check rates, see prices & availability, and book a Ft Myers vacation or a Bonita Springs Vacation Rental, please contact us online or simply give us a call at (866) 218-1709.

Download our free eBook 25 Ways to Enjoy Southwest Florida for other fun things to do and see in the area!

Remember, it’s always beach time at Lahaina!

Enjoy!

Barb

This is the 13th of 25 Ways to Enjoy Southwest Florida which can be downloaded for FREE!

the perfect opportunity! The J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is only a short drive from your Fort Myers Beach vacation rental, and is famous for it’s pristine wildlife and some of the BEST bird watching in the United States.

This Wildlife Refuge is also part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the country! This National Wildlife Refuge is one of over 550 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge system. It is located on the barrier island of Sanibel in the Gulf of Mexico, and occupies about one-third of the island.

In addition to bird watching, the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge offers a variety of other activities that immerse you into the wildlife and serenity of the island. You can rent canoes or kayaks and paddle through the mangroves on your own. Or, you can experience it with an experienced naturalist by your side on a guided tour, such as the Sunset Rookery Paddle.

You can also enjoy things such as:

• Refuge Tram Tour
• Boardwalk Nature Trail
• Fishing
• A Marine Touch Tank
• Nature and Sea Life cruises

Just sign up for the above through the Tarpon Bay Explorers.

J.N. Ding Darling is open 7 days a week at 8am, so it’s easy to fit into your Fort Myers Beach vacation!

If you’d like to check rates, see prices & availability, and book a Ft Myers vacation or a Bonita Springs Vacation Rental, please contact us online or simply give us a call at (866) 218-1709.

Download our free eBook 25 Ways to Enjoy Southwest Florida for other fun things to do and see in the area!

Remember, it’s always beach time at Lahaina!

Barb

This is the 12th of 25 Ways to Enjoy Southwest Florida which can be downloaded for FREE!

Here are a few of the nearby Southwest Florida beaches you may want to explore:

Lynn Hall Memorial Park
This is the main public beach on Fort Myers Beach, located next to Times Square. It features a playground, fishing pier, picnic huts, grills, an information kiosk, shops, and restaurants.

Bowditch Point Regional Park
You’ll Find unspoiled, natural Florida beach area wrapping around the Gulf of Mexico and the Bay. Dolphins love to play at the North tip of the island around sunset. Features restrooms, showers, grills, hiking paths, and a pavilion.

Bunche Beach
A long, narrow strip of sand stretching from South of the Sanibel Causeway to behind Fort Myers Beach. With small waves and shallow water depths, this is a popular spot for wade fisherman, kayakers, windsurfers, and kite surfers.

Lover’s Key State Park
On this remote, secluded, Florida beach, you can bike through trails, rent canoes or kayaks, and watch the dolphins and manatees play. It features picnic tables, restrooms, boardwalks, fishing, nature trails, and a tram ride to the beach.

Stay in one of our breathtaking Lover’s Key Resort luxury suites for the perfect romantic getaway!

Dog Beach
South of Fort Myers Beach, in Bonita Springs, this is one of the only public beaches that is an “off-leash dog area”. It’s open dawn to dusk, and is basically an island sandbar, with the size of the beach depending on the tide and water level.

Sanibel & Captiva
You can enjoy the island life on the beaches of the world famous Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Sanibel features beaches that are great for swimming, fishing, windsurfing, and picnicking. Or, you can enjoy boardwalk nature trails and native wetlands. Keep driving onto Captiva Island for large spans of sandy beach, beautiful water, gentle waves, and the most amazing sunsets you’ve ever witnessed.

Bowman’s Beach
This Florida beach has a serene setting, with vast areas of sand and unique shells. Located in Sanibel Island, Bowman’s beach features restrooms, BBQ grills, and picnic tables.

If you’d like to check rates, see prices & availability, and book a Ft Myers vacation or a Bonita Springs Vacation Rental, please contact us online or simply give us a call at (866) 218-1709.

Download our free eBook 25 Ways to Enjoy Southwest Florida for other fun things to do and see in the area!

Remember, it’s always beach time at Lahaina!

Barb

If you’re looking for Fort Myers Beach Rentals for you, your friends and family, we have over 165 private owned Fort Myers Beach Homes & Condos for rent – and would love to help you have the vacation of our dreams!

Learn more about our Fort Myers Beach Rentals, Fort Myers Beach Condo Rentals, and Fort Myers Beach Home Rentals.

Remember, it’s always beachtime at Lahaina!

Enjoy,
Barb